European petition for a new European Directive to outlaw discrimination

This campaign is promoting a Europe-wide petition for a new European Directive to outlaw discrimination. The main aim of this directive is to ban discrimination in access to goods and services on grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief – areas not currently covered in the EU anti-discrimination directives of many EU member states. A report which calls for a comprehensive new anti-discrimination directive and was submitted by UK MEP Liz Lynne, is going through the European Parliament. The reason behind this petition is the fact that the European Commission stated in its Work Programme for 2008 that it would bring forward a directive implementing the principle of equal treatment outside employment. However this historic proposal is now under threat. Objections seem to be coming from Governments of many Member States. With this petition MEP Liz Lynne and her supporters want to persuade the Commission and to build up a groundswell of support for action now.
The new and comprehensive directive has already gained support from many MPs and MEPs across party lines as well as NGOs and charities that fight against discrimination in countries all over the EU. ENAR also issued a joint statement with ILGA and Amnesty International welcoming the clear and strong message issued by the European Parliament to put “an end to the hierarchy of protection against different grounds of discrimination”. Please click on the link below and register your support for this petition. http://www.signtostopdiscrimination.org/